Presidential Delivery Unit Engages Lands Ministry to Fast-Track 5 Key Programmes
The Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) has engaged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to assess the implementation, progress and challenges confronting five major government programmes aimed at transforming Ghana’s land and natural resource sector.
The programmes under review are the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAIMOS), Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development (rCOMSDEP), Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, Reclamation of degraded land sites, and Green Mining.
The PDU delegation was led by the Head of the Unit, Madam Dinah Adiko. She said the engagement forms part of efforts to provide targeted support to priority programmes of government and to identify bottlenecks slowing delivery.
Receiving the delegation, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Yusif Sulemana, highlighted measures being undertaken to intensify the fight against illegal mining, particularly activities threatening forest reserves and water bodies.
He outlined gains made in addressing illegal mining but also pointed to operational and resource-related challenges affecting effective implementation.
Providing a detailed overview, Technical Director in charge of Forestry, Mr Joseph Osiakwan, outlined the environmental and health implications of illegal mining and explained the Ministry’s five-pillar approach to tackling the menace.
Mr Osiakwan noted that while significant interventions have been rolled out, progress continues to be hampered by the slow pace of prosecution of illegal mining cases, inadequate funding for geological investigations, and limited resources for reclamation and afforestation of degraded lands.
The team is further expected to undertake field visits and engage directly with agencies responsible for implementing the programmes to get a clearer understanding of challenges on the ground and facilitate practical solutions.
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